Swallows and Martins

Swallows and martins are excellent at catching insects while flying. They have slim bodies, long pointed wings, and wide mouths that help them catch insects in the air. Most of these birds have shiny blue or green feathers on their backs and lighter colours underneath, but their feather patterns can be quite different depending on the type. They have short legs and small feet because they spend most of their time flying and only rarely come down to the ground. These birds live in open or partly open areas all over the world. You can find them in places like farms, wetlands, towns, and on cliffs by the sea. Many of them migrate long distances. For example, several types breed in the UK during the summer and then travel all the way to Africa for the winter. They usually nest in groups, building mud nests attached to buildings or digging holes in banks. Their flight is quick and graceful, with fast wingbeats mixed with gliding. You can often hear their soft, twittering calls when they are feeding in the air or interacting with each other near their nests.